Downsizing: Sources and justification and no scapegoats

Abstract

The majority of recent job downsizing has occured in the management and professional ranks. Some of this downsizing came about because of continuous significant technological progress (allows people to be replaced by hardware and software), competitive forces in direct labor cost in the emerging economies, and Wall Street's insistence on increasing profits. Advanced technologies allow us to do more with less. Computers if used effectively now allow engineers and their managers to achieve higher levels of effectiveness and efficiency. Perhaps we need to adopt the sliderule mentality when using computers. As an example, how effective is CAD? Obviously CAD and CAE provide engineers with an opportunity to explore many alternatives. But how many alternatives should be explored? When engineers used slide rules considerable thought was given to the alternatives that would be explored. Engineers need to recognize that these advanced technologies must eventually be justified by either cost savings or by providing for future growth.